Take anyone good looking in the news, on a quiet news day, and see what you can come up with to make an eye-catching headline. Then go out and search for something which backs up your story and, without checking any of the facts, write a sensational story which is just on the brink, just enough to get people thinking, but not enough to result in a court case. The idea is to sell something, regardless of how you do it, and the best way is to use a name or an event which is right in the news, popular on the search engines and bound to grab attention.

So it is with the latest story about Miley Cyrus. Not what she is wearing – or not wearing, come to that – or anything to do with her work. No, it has to be something sensational and headline grabbing. Let’s make her a possible (note: possible) lesbian and see who reacts.

All news is good news, all publicity is good publicity? In this case it seems to make little or no difference: Miley Cyrus has shown a good deal more maturity than many people credit her with and has laughed the whole thing off. Is it so bad to be labeled a lesbian, even when you aren’t? Of course, it depends on the circumstances: a woman labeled a lesbian because some self-styled macho hunk couldn’t get to first base is a bad thing which can have devastating consequences. But in this case? Well, to be honest, would it make any difference at all? Does it even matter.